Habitat

In Sungei Lalang Virgin Jungle Reserve, Jt. lanceolata is known from the steep banks of a forest river in a deep humid valley; growing with Jt. magnifica. Despite the proximity of the river, Jt. lanceolata grows on well drained soils and not in the low swampy ground at the bends in the river. The population of Jt. lanceolata was probably once greater - further down the valley scattered individuals occur growing in logged forest near the river. (H. E. Moore Jr., The Genus Johannesteijsmannia in Gard. Bull. Singapore 26. 1972)A

Description

Solitary acaulescent palm, with subterranean procumbent stem to 15 cm diameter. Leaves erect. ± lanceolate. to 3.5 m tall. Lamina to 2.4 m long and 30 em wide covered with brown scurfy scales on the underside. along the midrib and the primary nerves. Plicae numerous to 25 along each side of the costa. with small anastomosing veins between the plicae. Lower leaf margin with short spines (to 1 mm) as on the petiole. Petiole with two conspicuous yellow stripes. Leaf sheath fibrous to 25 em long. withering to form a brown network of fibres Inflorescence axillary buried between the petioles under a pile of dead leaves and other plant debris. Spathes at first cream. then turning brown. caducous. 3 - 4 in number. sparsely clothed in brown indumentum. to 20 em long and 2 cm wide. tubular at the base, not inflated, acute at the apex, split down one side. Peduncle tomentose to 25 cm long, 10 mm in diameter. with one order of branching. Floriferous branches 3 - 6 in number, thick. to 16 cm long and 10 mm in diameter. pubescent, curved or straight. Flowers sessile, white and papillate, obtuse in bud, solitary or grouped in 2's and 3's. each subtended by a minute bracteole, arranged in a spiral on the branch. Calyx short 0.3 mm high, glabrous and fleshy, shallowly three-lobed. Petals to 1 mm long, broadly triangular, fleshy. and very thick, connate into a short tube at the base. papillose without, somewhat verrucose within towards the apex. Staminal ring minutely epipetalous. abruptly contracted into six equal filaments. Anthers oval. Pollen grains white. Ovary glabrous, carpels three. free at the base. connate at the apex to form a common style 0.3 mm long. Fruit to 3.4 cm in diameter. usually developing from one carpel, often developing from two or three, covered with c.90 low corky warts, reddish-brown in colour, to 2.5 mm high. Endocarp woody to 1 mm thick. Endosperm bony to 2.5 cm in diameter, penetrated at the base by corky integumental tissue. Embryo lateral. (H. E. Moore Jr. 1972. The Genus Johannesteijsmannia. Gard. Bull. Singapore 26:63-83)C